Match Report – PAK vs NZ 3rd T20I, April 21, 2024

New Zealand 179 for 3 (Chapman 87*, Foxcroft 31, Abbas 2-27) beat Pakistan 178 for 4 (Shadab 41, Babar 37, Sodhi 2-25) by seven wickets

Chapman picks up from the place he left final April

Chapman was New Zealand’s most spectacular performer when a equally under-strength facet visited in April 2023, and had little hassle choosing up from the place he had left off.

However Chapman demonstrated that his capability prolonged past energy hitting, as he set about taking aside the harmful duo of Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed. He understood the goal wasn’t large sufficient to require reckless slogging and manipulated the sector to select boundaries in three successive overs the 2 bowled. There was a slice of fortune when Naseem fluffed a reasonably easy likelihood off a miscued sweep, and it resulted within the batter going again into his shell for a stray Iftikhar Ahmed over.

The reprieve ended up costing Pakistan dearly. Iftikhar was proven no such respect when he got here again on, smashed for an enormous six again over his head and, as Chapman steered New Zealand in direction of Pakistan’s whole with chanceless inevitability, the aptitude in his sport started to shine via, too. For he would not simply get New Zealand to their goal, however land a psychological blow by decimating their two prized quick bowlers.

Shaheen Shah Afridi was the primary to bear the brunt, as two boundaries and a six within the fifteenth over introduced the asking fee beneath 9. Babar introduced his ace Naseem again in instantly, however a worse destiny awaited him. A carved six, a carved 4, a straight six, and a pulled 4. That is how his first 4 balls went in a 23-run over, plunging the required fee to underneath a run a ball.

New Zealand bowlers stymie Pakistan’s progress

Pakistan had been put in to bat on a pitch Babar stated was the everyday batting-friendly strip Rawalpindi is understood for, in stark distinction to Saturday’s floor. However the strategy Pakistan took to setting a goal was muddled at finest. Saim Ayub bought the facet off to his trademark flyer, however in Zak Foulkes, Ish Sodhi and Will O’Rourke, New Zealand saved discovering bowlers to sneak in tight overs and stymie Pakistan’s momentum.

That was very true as soon as Ayub fell, and Babar and Mohammad Rizwan got here collectively two balls after the powerplay ended. Overs six to 11 noticed New Zealand enable simply 36 runs because the momentum Pakistan had constructed light, with Rizwan, specifically, unable to seek out the gaps he so cannily does within the powerplay. He would go off shortly after with a hamstring harm, whereas captain Michael Bracewell coaxed a false shot from Babar to ship him on his approach.

Shadab gives impetus to the innings

As soon as extra, although, New Zealand discovered a approach to have the ultimate say, with Jacob Duffy and Foulkes managing a pair of tight ultimate overs that saved Pakistan beneath 180. Pakistan might need felt it was sufficient in opposition to an enfeebled New Zealand facet, however as is commonly the case in T20 cricket, there are few hiding locations for below-par totals.